Cicero officer charged with criminally transmitting HIV

A Cicero police officer has been charged with criminally transmitting HIV after a man accused him of not informing him he had the virus before a sexual encounter.

John Savage, 38, of LaGrange Park was charged with criminally transmitting HIV and appeared today in Bond Court in Maywood, where he was released on his own recognizance, according to a news release from the office of Cook County Sheriff Thomas Dart.

The victim, a 24-year-old man, said he and Savage went to a movie on July 29, 2012, and after that went back to Savage's home in LaGrange Park where they engaged in sexual activity, the release said.

The victim later asked Savage about his HIV status and Savage told him he was HIV positive, the release said.

The victim reported the incident to LaGrange Park police, who then contacted the sheriff's police.

Savage was arrested on Wednesday and was suspended from duty as a results of the charges, said Cicero spokesman Ray Hanania. However, he added, Savage was off-duty during the time of the alleged incident.

Savage as been employed for 13 years at the Cicero Police Department, Hanania said.